Frying Pan Anglers - Colorado Fly Fishing Report 18th June

We did not post a report last week because of our attendance at the Fly Fishing Retailer show in Denver. The show was smaller than usual and a number of exhibitors we have grown accustomed to meeting with were not present. There was not a great deal of innovation in evidence but there were a few nice developments. The two most impressive from our viewpoint are the new sharkskin fly line to be introduced by SA shortly and the new BIIMX from Winston.

The new fly line is interesting technology which is designed to float high in the water, reduce friction on the guides when casting and generally provide a superior line with no memory. The new rod from Winston will satisfy those who miss the Sage XP series which was mystifyingly discontinued some years ago. The rod is fast and a pleasure to cast. We will have a demo model in the shop as soon as they are available for those who would like to try it in due course.

The past week has welcomed in Autumn in more ways than one. The flow in the Pan was dropped to winter levels. The leaves have noticeably changed in the higher altitudes and are starting to fall and float down the river. In addition we had some rain on Monday and again today (Sunday) which is cooling things down a great deal. It was very cold on the river on Sunday during the rain with the temperature struggling to stay in the 50's. It will be cold on Monday with the temperature warming towards the 70's as the week progresses. The low overnight temperature on Monday is predicted to get down to 30 so be well dressed.

This weekend in particular there have been a lot of fishermen on the river enjoying the great fishing that comes in the Autumn. Traditionally in the week following the Fly fishing Retailer shows in Denver, we get a number of visitors in the area who enjoy a few days on the river. This week was certainly no exception.

For those who might be interested in booking the Taylor Creek Cabins we advise that September is full and October is filling as well.

The flow dropped twice this week so the Pan is now very accessible to wading. Above the 4 mile mark the Pan continues to fish exceptionally well with reports of good dry fly activity all the way down. There were good hatches of drakes near the Dam during the week, but they are now getting sporadic. With a little rain and some cloud cover, there were excellent hatches of BWO's and a few PMDs early in the afternoon. On Sunday with the rain coming in it was cold and wet. The dry fly fishing was excellent with the fish taking principally BWO patterns such as the parachute Adams #20, extended body BWO's #18 and #20 and the comparadun BWO #20.

In the evening, it was very cold and only a few midges were coming off. The fish took a black biot midge emerger #22 behnd a special emerger #20. Expect more of the same in the coming week.

We are now entering Autumn with the last of the drakes (near the dam) as well as two hatches of PMD's a day. In addition, midges are coming off morning afternoon and evenings while BWO's will come off if there is any cloud cover or rain, or on the bright days, in the shade. They will also come off in the evenings. There are still a few caddis about though they are not as dominant on the Pan as on the Fork.

With the cooler weather coming, don't underestimate the effects of changes. It will get very cold if you stay on the river through rain enjoying the excellent hatches. So just be well stocked with flies and be prepared for the range of possible weather you might encounter.

Recommended Flies:

The drakes are nearing the end of their cycle but a few stragglers will still be in evidence at the Dam. Try the dries, cripples emergers and the nymphs. The fish have seen so many drakes by now that they are very selective. The solution will be a combination of good presentation and perhaps a pattern with a touch variation from the norm.

With PMD's coming off try emergers and dries. A barr's emerger or the FPA PMD emerger #18 work well. Also try the hunch back #18, the bubbleback #16 and #18 and the #18 special emerger. Try fishing them behind orange stimulators. If the activity is a little slow during the day, try some nymphs down deeper.

For baetis try a small FPA sparkle baetis, a thorax sparkle baetis, the icebreaker or a pheasant tail before they start to rise. Try sizes #18 - #22. In addition, when the BWO's start coming off try RS2's and other emerger patterns behind a dry. It doesn't hurt to try the emergers behind the nymphs if the fish are staying down in the higher water. For dries, use parachute Adams, Matthews sparkle baetis, biot BWO, the extended body BWO and the grizzly Adams. Take sizes from #18 - #24.

Midges come off during the day and in the evenings so try WD-40's #20 , red and black chironocones #20, brassie's #18 - #22, midge larva patterns #18 - #22, black polywings #18 - #22 and garcia's rojo midges # 18 - #22. Try the gray loopwing emergers #20 - #22, the special emergers both with and without the trailing shuck and gray RS2's #18 - #22. Also carry dry patterns such as the z-wing real midge, suspended midge and any similar dry black and gray patterns in sizes from #20 through to #26.

There are some caddis still coming off on the Pan on warmer evenings, so try emergers and dries towards evening.

Roaring Fork

Current Flow: near Emma - 457cfs (if you want more uptodate figures check out current readings on our "Links" page).

Earlier in the week with a bout of solid rain, the Fork blew out and put paid to floating on Monday and into Tuesday. It has since cleared although the rain today threatens to increase the flow again. Despite the early week blow out there were reports of good fishing along the full length of the Fork. Travis reported good trips on the Fork above Basalt with PMD's and baetis nymphs. Harry and Ed reported good floating from Hookes down. Harry reported good results on smaller nymphs as well as BWO emerger parterns.

The water flow above Basalt is too low for all except the hardiest souls to try and float. There is excellent walk wading access available along the Fork above Basalt and at this time of year it is ideal for those who are willing to put in a little effort.

Most of the float traffic now commences at Carbondale, so the Fork is still busy down from Carbondale. Ideally, therefore one should be a little judicious in choosing a time to start a float with the amount of traffic on the river if you want to float that lower section.

Recommended Flies:

Overall the best results on the Fork are from nymphing although streamers have been doing quite well of late.

During the day use PMD and BWO nymphs and emergers behind hopper or stimulator patterns. If you are nymphing deep down, use plenty of weight in the fast running water and pick where the fish are a little protected behind structure or deeper down in the slower water.

In addition use caddis emergers as well.

In the afternoons and evenings there is a myriad of bugs coming off or in the air, yet the fish are still keeping low most of the time. So continue to use PMD and BWO nymphs and emergers. Use caddis pupa and emerger patterns as well as the caddis are prolific in the shade and towards evenings.

Colorado River

The water in the Colorado suffered early in the week when the Fork blew out. The releases into the Colorado at the moment remain colored as well. Ed has reported good fishing along the edges and in the riffles despite the water conditions over the past few day.

Recommended Flies: caddis dries and emergers, PMDs - nymphs emergers and dries; bwo's - nymphs emergers and dries; 20 inchers size #10 - #14; streamers #6 and #8.